Hike Description

Pacific Crest Falls is a lovely set of cascades tucked away in a narrow slot just above the Pacific Crest Trail. As is the case with many of the smaller waterfalls in Oregon, winter and spring are the best times to see them at their highest flows and to enjoy the relative calm of the area while Herman Creek Campground is closed for the season.

You’ll start on the Herman Creek Trail and proceed a half-mile to the trail junction where the Herman Creek Bridge Trail begins. Left leads to the challenging Gorton Creek Trail and Indian Point. Stay right for the beautiful walk down the Herman Creek Bridge Trail, across the sturdy bridge, and up to a junction with the Pacific Crest Trail. Take your time through this area, as the creek, mosses, ferns, firs and hemlock combine to create a quintessential western Oregon experience. The falls themselves are just a half-mile further down the Pacific Crest Trail, where views of the Columbia Gorge really open up. From the views of Washington to the north, to the neck-craning perspectives of the gorge walls to the south, the slender Pacific Crest Trail winds through the scree and back into the woods before it finds the creek that forms the falls.

Updates, Tips + Comments

01.01.16

This was a lovely hike, a lot of variety in the surroundings. The first bit gets your heart pumping a little bit then the rest is very manageable. The driving instructions are a bit misleading though. You don't ever turn left onto Herman Creek Road, you just pass the hatchery then take a right into the campground, following the signs to the start of the trailhead where you can park!